Today's Opinions

Ours is not the perfect little town. For all the amazing reasons that make this a great place to raise kids, we must not disregard that there is bullying in our schools.
Bullying is a form of aggression in which one or more children intentionally intimidate, harass or harm another child who is perceived as being unable to defend himself.
There is the aggressor, the victim and the bystander. The bully usually comes from an unfortunate place that is often chaotic with poorly set boundaries and expectations. The bully is unhappy about something or does not know how to get along with other kids.

What motivates the actions and decisions of our county council?
Councils change every two years. I served on four and worked with six others.
Interactions among any seven people will be different. But common themes run through most councils.
The first and official motivation, of course, is the best interest of the citizens the council represents and serves.
There will be legitimate and healthy differences of opinion over what that best interest is.
Elected legislators everywhere are frequently torn between doing what their constituents want (representation) and what they think best (leadership).

We hear that a certain local businessman and his partners are about to launch a co-work space venture in White Rock near Metzger’s.

Send us your wags

“Just a wag” features initial snippets of news heard around town. The wags may grow to larger stories or simply remain snippets, either way this is meant to spark interest and provide food for thought.
E-mail wags to lanews@lamonitor.com.

Whatever happened to good comedy, or drama, or mystery?
Did all the talented script writers have their jobs outsourced to sheep herders living in a yurt out in the Russian tundra?
A cursory glance at television schedules today can serve you well if you happen to need a colonoscopy test prep.
First of all, let’s admit that we all love useless contraptions.
You know, like that USB-enabled combination shower head coffee filter you got for Christmas?
Or that solar powered meat thermometer. And what about all the attention from women we now get ever since we started spray painting our heads with Ronco’s bald spot remover?

• What is behind this dreadful traffic-circle idea? Leave Trinity Drive alone.
•The new pavements on the truck route and parts of Rover Boulevard are beautifully done: such skill and care!
•Again, we thank the folks in the Los Alamos Fire Department, the Los Alamos Police Department and all who serve and protect.
•The dog-poo-cleanup stations on walking paths in Pajarito Acres are really appreciated: thanks much.
• The wonderful, huge “gear collage” attached to the new Transfer (eco) Building is terrific: it moves, too.
•The flower baskets on Central Avenue are really lovely: the trees are too dry.
•Please reread #1.

While attending a local function, I noticed quite a number of people gathered around wanting to sign a petition. I was pleased for the opportunity to participate myself, when I heard it was in opposition to the proposed “Traffic Circles/Roundabouts” on Trinity Drive.
I personally did not hear anyone coming forward with praise for their excellent past experiences with traffic circles. At that function and since however, I have heard and read numerous astute insights into why “If It Ain’t Broke Don’t Fix It” illustrated.
I then began thinking back myself to when I grew up in southern California and found myself and my car pool buddy commuting from the South Bay Area to Long Beach State College.

Is the media piling on Jerome Block, Jr. and the Public Regulation Commission? That’s what PRC commissioner Ben Hall says. He notes that in America people are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Granted, a day seldom goes by without a new charge against Block making headlines. First I will note that all media are very careful to use words like alleged, charged and faces when talking about accused lawbreakers. It allows company lawyers to sleep better at night.
There has been one recent exception. For a brief period between jobs, former state public safety chief Darren White was the crime reporter for an Albuquerque television channel.

Professionals sometimes make a critical mistake in their careers: they neglect to join their industry associations.
After investing time and money in a university education or training program, they disregard the value of continued education, advocacy and other assistance that associations provide.
With so much at stake in these difficult times, why would anyone want to go it alone?
Associations were created by people who saw the need for banding together to fight for common values and interests affecting their industry.
While this is still the primary reason most people join, modern associations provide much more than they did in their early days.
Advocacy. For some, this is the most important service an association provides.